Normal value of jaundice in premature infants
Release time : 06/08/2025 09:30:01
When a baby is born, parents will know a series of data about the baby's physical condition, one of which is the so-called jaundice index.
What is the normal value of the jaundice index in premature infants? What is the jaundice index and what value does it actually represent? Let's take a look at the answers to these questions about the jaundice index. ### 1. Definition and significance of jaundice index - ** Definition **: Jaundiced index, usually a measure of bilirubin levels in the blood, used to assess whether newborns have jaundice. - ** Significance **: By measuring the jaundice index, doctors can understand the level of bilirubin in newborns and determine whether further treatment is needed. ### 2. normal range - For premature infants, the normal range of the jaundice index may vary. In general, the normal value of the jaundice index in premature infants may be slightly lower than the standard value for full-term infants, but the specific value needs to be determined based on the doctor's specific judgment and laboratory test results. ### 3. The actual meaning of the jaundice index - ** Bilirubin level **: The jaundice index directly reflects the level of bilirubin in the blood of newborns. If the index is high, it may mean that too much bilirubin has accumulated in the body; while a low index may be caused by other reasons. - ** Health risks **: Excessive bilirubin levels may affect the health of newborns, such as causing serious problems such as bilirubin encephalopathy. Therefore, timely monitoring and control of the jaundice index is crucial to ensuring the health of newborns. ### 4. How to interpret the results of the jaundice index - ** Combined with clinical symptoms **: The health status of a newborn cannot be completely determined based on the jaundice index alone. Doctors usually make a comprehensive judgment based on the newborn's clinical manifestations, medical history and other examination results. - ** Regular monitoring **: For newborns at potential risk, doctors will recommend regular jaundice index monitoring to ensure that any abnormalities are detected and dealt with in a timely manner. In summary, the jaundice index is one of the important indicators for assessing the health of premature infants. Although the specific range of normal values varies with individual differences, through continuous monitoring and the judgment of professional doctors, we can better understand and manage neonatal jaundice.
Neonatal jaundice is a very common disease in newborns. Clinically, 60% of full-term babies develop jaundice within one week after birth, and 80% of premature babies develop jaundice within 24 hours after birth.
The normal value of neonatal jaundice is based on serum bilirubin as a reference indicator. It is normal as long as term infants do not exceed 204μmol/L (12mg/dl) and premature infants do not exceed 255μmol/L (15mg/dl).
What is the normal value of jaundice in premature infants? Medically, the jaundice that occurs in babies under one month old (within 28 days of birth) is called jaundice in premature infants. The main symptom is yellowing of the skin, mucous membrane, and sclera. The child's loss of appetite, restlessness, and body temperature may also rise.
Jaterus in premature infants is a very common disease in newborns. Clinically, 60% of full-term babies develop jaundice within one week after birth, and 80% of premature infants develop jaundice within 24 hours after birth.
Premature jaundice, primarily due to the immature liver function and abnormal bilirubin metabolism in newborns, resulting in an elevated blood concentration of bilirubin. This condition can be further classified into physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice.
So, what is the normal value for premature infant jaundice? The normal range for premature infant jaundice is based on serum bilirubin levels. For full-term infants, the normal value is not more than 204μmol/L (12mg/dl), and for premature infants, it is not more than 255μmol/L (15mg/dl).
Additionally, in children with physiological jaundice, aside from the skin yellowing, there is no significant impact on appetite or mental state, and symptoms generally resolve spontaneously within one month.
In cases of pathological jaundice in children, not only do they exhibit changes in their skin, but they also cry, fuss, and refuse to feed. In such situations, parents must promptly take their child to the hospital for treatment, as delaying this may lead to hepatocellular encephalopathy, a very serious consequence.
Symptoms of neonatal jaundice in preterm infants include skin and sclera yellowing due to an increase in bilirubin within the body.
Premature infant jaundice is a common problem. The causes are numerous and complex, and it can lead to hemolytic jaundice, which can cause death or serious sequelae.
What are the specific symptoms in premature infants with jaundice? 1. The production of bilirubin is excessively high due to the fact that premature infants produce two times as much bilirubin daily compared to adults, which is caused by the relative abundance of red blood cells at birth.
The life expectancy of these animals is 20-40 days shorter than that of adults and they are more prone to destruction.
The source of the extra hepatic bilirubin is multiple, and it is due to the high content of HO-1 in the neonates within the first 7 days of life, which has a greater potential to produce bilirubin.
2. The liver function is immature, and the content of Y and Z proteins in hepatocytes is low, with poor ability to take up bilirubin, which takes 5-15 days to reach an adult level.
In hepatocytes, the amount and activity of uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) are insufficient, resulting in poor function of forming conjugated bilirubin.
3. Intestine-liver circulation is special. Normal bacterial flora in the intestines of premature infants have not been established when they are born, and bilirubin entering the intestines cannot be converted into urobilinogen and faecalbilinogen.
Moreover, the glucuronidase activity in the intestines of premature infants is high, which hydrolyzes conjugated bilirubin in the intestines into glucuronic acid and unbound bilirubin, which are absorbed by the intestinal wall and reaches the liver through the hepatic portal vein.
Increase the burden on the liver.
Premature infants are more likely to develop jaundice than full-term infants, and the severity of jaundice is greater in premature infants. Generally, they have higher bilirubin levels and it is more difficult to resolve the jaundice. Parents can give their baby a cup of sugar water, and it is important to go to a hospital for regular examinations and treatment.
So, what's the reason for premature infants experiencing jaundice? 1. Premature infants generally have higher levels of bilirubin (possibly related to immature liver development).
2. The jaundice in preterm infants is less likely to resolve (it often persists until more than ten days later).
3. The causes of preterm birth often also result in neonatal jaundice, such as congenital infections in fetuses.
4. Premature infants are prone to complications such as neonatal asphyxia, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, and intracranial hemorrhage, which can exacerbate jaundice.
5. Premature infants are more prone to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which can easily lead to the occurrence of kernicterus.
6. Correct hypoxia and water and electrolyte disorders, and maintain acid-base balance.
Premature infants develop jaundice earlier than full-term infants, is of a higher degree and lasts for a longer time. Therefore, parents pay attention to monitoring and intervening in hyperbilirubinemia in premature infants whose serum bilirubin levels persist for a long time.
What should I do for premature infants with jaundice? In fact, most premature infants do not need treatment for jaundice.
To prevent the occurrence of hemolytic jaundice in newborns, pregnant women first need to actively cooperate with doctors to complete systematic prenatal check-ups, identify problems in a timely manner, and deal with them as soon as possible.
If a pregnant woman and her husband have incompatible blood types, further testing of the antibody titer in the pregnant woman's blood is necessary. If necessary, treatment should be administered to reduce the risk of neonatal hemolytic disease in newborns.
Additionally, it is essential to provide perinatal care for newborns, diagnose and treat them early. Early hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can reduce the risk of kernicterus.
Preterm infant jaundice can be divided into pathological jaundice and physiological jaundice. Physiological jaundice usually begins after 3 days and lasts between 10 to 15 days, while preterm infants may persist for up to a month.
If the child appears jaundice within 24 hours after birth, or if the jaundice develops rapidly and lasts a long time, accompanied by anemia, abnormal body temperature, poor appetite, vomiting, abnormal color of urine and feces.
Some may have subsided or decreased in color, only to reappear and worsen again, which is typically pathological jaundice.
Pathological jaundice is commonly caused by neonatal hemolytic disease, neonatal infection, congenital biliary atresia, and neonatal hepatitis.
Physiological jaundice in infants can be alleviated by allowing the baby to drink sugar water or using pear tea. Additionally, exposing the baby to morning sunlight can also help.
Pathological jaundice requires the baby to be given phototherapy.
When jaundice occurs, parents should not panic and must remain calm in the face of their baby's condition.
In premature infants, jaundice is a condition caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the body due to various reasons.
Is neonatal jaundice treatable, and how is it treated? 1. Phototherapy.
Phototherapy is an effective and safe method for treating neonatal jaundice, characterized by its effectiveness, convenience, minimal toxic side effects. Current treatments include phototherapy units, cold-light phototherapy beds, and phototherapy blankets.
Light therapy is only used to treat high indirect bilirubinemia.
It is recommended to provide prophylactic phototherapy to very low birth weight infants under 30 weeks of gestational age.
2. Exchange transfusion therapy.
Exchange transfusion therapy can directly replace bilirubin, sensitized red blood cells, antibodies and harmful substances in the blood.
Correcting anemia and preventing heart failure are the most effective methods to reduce serum bilirubin concentrations and prevent kernicterus.
Indication for exchange transfusion is serum bilirubin 342μmol/L (20mg/dl).
3. Drug treatment: (1) If there are high-risk factors that cause bilirubin encephalopathy, symptomatic treatment should be given.
Enzyme inducer: Lumina, 5-10mg/Kg/day, administered in 2-3 doses.
Nikshami 0.1, 3 times a day.
(2) Infusion of albumin or fresh plasma: Albumin 1g/Kg/day, infused intravenously. 1g of albumin can bind to 16g of bilirubin; or 25- 30ml of plasma once or twice a day.
(3) Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids can be used to inhibit the hemolysis process, prednisone 2.5mg/time, 2-3 times a day.
It can increase the binding of bilirubin to hepatic enzymes, thus preventing the reaction between antigen and antibody.
(4) Correcting acidosis: Administration of 3-5 ml/Kg of 5% sodium bicarbonate can facilitate the binding of bilirubin and albumin.
(5) Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: The modified QiYanHao Tang can be used.
Intravenous Glucose Infusion.
*The medical content involved in this text is for reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.